Container construction and parts and blanks therefor or the like



y 9. 1963 v I R. L. WALDROP 3,39

CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION AND PARTS AND BLANKS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT L.WALDROP ms ATTORNEYS y 9, 1958 R. L. WALDROP 3,391,852

CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION AND PARTS AND BLANKS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Shet 2 F IG'.8

INVENTOR. I ROBERT LWALDROP BY $4M HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,391,852 CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION AND PARTS AND BLANKS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Robert L. Wald'rop, Bon Air, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,632 21 Claims. (Cl. 22951) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a container cover member adapted to be secured to the open end of a container body by a folder-over peripheral flange of the container body, the cover member being openable by the pulling of a tab thereof relative to the cover member to define an opening through the cover member with the opening extending inwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the cover member to a point beyond the inwardly folded cover-retaining flange of the container body where the opening thereafter flares outwardly relative to the pull tab to define a stepped opening through the cover member which can be reclosed by the resulting opening flap means of the cover member being disposed against the stepped portion of the opening and being relocked in its closed position by the tab being held in its closed position by the cover holding flange of the container body.

This invention relates to an improved container construction having improved opening means, as well as to an improved part of such a container construction and a blank performing such part or the like.

It is well known that various container manufacturers desire to provide a container construction in a simple and effective manner to have an attractive opening means for readily permitting product dispensing and which will, thereafter, effectively reclose the container construction for subsequent storing of the remaining product means.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to pro vide such a container construction wherein the opening means is substantially pilfer-proof and which can be readily reclosed in a simple and effective manner to protect the remaining product means therein.

In particular, this invention provides a cover member for an open ended receptacle with the cover member being held in place by a peripheral annular flange of the receptacle and having opening means which provide a stepped opening through the cover member with the opened part of the cover member providing a stepped plug means for reclosing the stepped opening in a simple and effective manner.

In addition, another feature of this invention is to utilize the peripheral cover holding flangeof the receptacle means to relock the opened part of the cover member in a closed position thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved container construction having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved part for such a container construction or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved blank for forming such a part of the container construction of this invention.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of the improved container construction of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the various parts of the container construction of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, top perspective view illustrating one of the steps in initially opening the container of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are respectively top perspective views of the container construction of FIGURE 1 and illustrate other steps in the opening of the container construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the cover member blank for the container construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustrating one method of forming the cover member blank of FIGURE 7.

While all of the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing opening means in a cover member of a container construction or the like, it

is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide opening means for other wall means of a container construction or the like.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the large variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved container construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises an open ended receptacle means 11 having the upper Open end 12 thereof closed by an improved cover member 13 of this invention.

In particular, the receptacle 11 can comprise a sheet of metallic foil, such as aluminum-containing metallic foil or the like, suitably drawn to form a circular and flat bottom wall means 14 integrally interconnected to a substantially vertically extending and continuous side wall means 15 terminating at the upper edge 16 thereof with an outwardly directed, horizontal and annular peripheral flange 17. The flange 17 is integrally interconnected at the outer edge 18 thereof to a substantially upstanding continuous annular cover holding flange 19 utilized in a manner hereinafter described.

The cover member 13 of this invention is a substantially flat circular member having moisture impervious material, such as aluminum-containing foil or the like, covering the outer and inner surfaces 20 and 21 thereof.

The cover member 13 is assembled to the product filled receptacle 11 by having the outer peripheral edge of the cover member 13 disposed on the peripheral flange 17 of the receptacle 11 to completely cover the open end 12 thereof. Thereafter, the upstanding cover flange 19 of the receptacle 11 is bent flat over the peripheral edge of the cover member 13 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 1 to securely hold the cover member 13 in its assembled relationship with the receptacle 11.

If desired, the cover member 13 could be secured to the horizontal flange 17 of the receptacle 11 by suitable sealing means and the cover flange 19 could be secured to the outer surface 20 of the cover member 13 by sealing, whereby the cover member 13 would substantially hermetically seal the product within the receptacle 11.

In any event, it can readily be seen that when the under surface 21 of the cover member 13 is formed of moisture impervious material, the contents of th container 11 will be completely surrounded by moisture barrier material and when the exterior surface 20 of the cover member 13 is formed of moisture impervious material, the entire exterior surface of the container construction is formed of moisture impervious material.

The cover member 13 of this invention is formed from a substantially flat blank 22 illustrated in FIG- URE 7 and comprises a single layer of cardboard or the like having the opposed sides thereof covered with metallic foil. The blank 22 is suitably cut and scored to define a substantially circular structure 23 having an outwardly extending handle or grasping tab 24 foldable over the circular portion 23 of the blank 22 at a fold line 25 for a purpose hereinafter described. 7

The exterior side 20 of the blank 22 has a pair of die cuts formed part of the way through the blank 22 and having the terminal ends 27 thereof interconnected together by a score or fold line 28 for a purpose hereinafter 1 described. The other terminal ends 29 of the die cuts 26 extend to the inner edges of the handle or tab 24 and extend to the outer peripheral edge of the circular portion 23 of the blank 22.

The other side 21 of the blank 22 has a pair of die cuts 30 passing part of the way therethrough and inwardly offset relative to the die cuts 26 in the other side 20 of the blank 22 for a purpose hereinafter described. One pair of terminal ends 31 of the die cuts 30 terminate at the same point as the terminal ends 27 of the die cuts 30 and the other pair of terminal ends 32 of the die cuts 30 terminate at the same point as the terminal ends 29 of the die cuts 26 for a purpose hereinafter described.

While the die cuts 26 and 30 can be partially formed through the blank 22 in any suitable manner, one such method is illustrated in FIGURE 8 and comprises an apparatus 33 having a pair of relative removable die members 34 and 35. The blank 22 is placed on the upper flat surface 36 of the die member 35 and the die member 34 is moved downwardly toward the die member 35 a predetermined distance wherein a'cutting edge means 37 on the lower surface 38 of the die member 34 can partially cut through the blank 22 to form the die cut means 26 through the side 20 of the blank 22. Thereafter, the blank 22 can be turned over on the die member 36 and a similar die means to the die means 34 can cut partly through the side 21 of the blank 22 to form the die cuts 30 in the manner previously described.

Alternately, the die members 34 and 35 can be so constructed and arranged that the die cuts 26 are formed by the die member 34 while the die member 35 simultaneously forms the die cuts 30.

In addition, the die members 34 and 35 can form the fold lines 25 and 28 at the same time that the die cuts 26 and 30 are being formed.

In any event, it can readily be seen from FIGURE 8 that the die cuts 26 merely extend into the medial portion of the blank 22 while the die cuts 30 also extend inwardly to substantially the medial portion of the blank 22.

After the blank 22 has been die cut and scored in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7 and previously described, the grasping tab or handle 24 of the blank 22 is folded back over the top side 20 of the blank 22 to form the cover member 13 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3, whereby the cover member 13 is adapted to be disposed on the horizontal flange 17 of the filled receptacle 11 and be held thereto by the bending of the cover flange 19 flat against the side 20 of the cover member 13 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1. Thus, not only does the cover holding flange 19 hold the cover member 13 to the filled receptacle 11, but also that portion 39 of the cover flange 19 adjacent the handle or tab 24 holds the tab 24 flat against the side 20 of the cover member 13 in an out of the way position for subsequent shipping,

storing and merchandizing of the container construction 10.

When the ultimate consumer desires to open the container construction 10 of this invention, the ultimate consumer grasps the free portion of the tab 24'and'pulls outwardly and upwardly on the same to unfold the tab 24 as well as to unfold the portion 39 of the cover holding flange 19 of the receptacle 11 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4. Thereafter, the ultimate consumer pulls upwardly and rearwardly on the pull tab 24 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5, whereby the cover member 13 tears between adjacent die cuts 26 and 30 to define a stepped opening 40 through the cover member 13 to provide access to the product means in the receptacle 11.

As the opening 40 is being formed in the cover member 13, it can be seen that the pull tab 24 pulls a flap means 41 from the cover member 13 until the flap means 41 is separated from the cover member 13 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 6 whereby the flap means 41 is hinged to the remainder of the cover member 13 at the hinge line 28.

Therefore, it can be seen that the ultimate consumer can readily dispense the desired quantity of product means from the receptacle 11 out through the opening 40 thereof in a simple and effective manner.

When the ultimate consumer desires to reclose the opened container construction 10, the ultimate consumer folds the flap means 41 back over the opening 40 in the cover member 13.

When the flap means 41 of the cover member 13 is being formed therefrom by tearing through the cardboard material of the cover member 13 between the adjacent die cuts 26 and 30, it can be seen that the flap means 41 has an outer portion 42 outwardly offset relative to an inward portion 43 thereof whereby the outer portion 42 defines peripheral shoulder means 44 substantially surrounding the inner portion 43 of the flap means 41. Similarly, the remaining portion of the cover member 13 has the stepped opening 40 thereof defined by an inner portion 45 inwardly offset relative to an outer portion 46 of the opening 40, the outer portion 46 and the inner portion 45 of the opening 40 being defined by a formed shoulder means 47.

Thus, when the opened flap means 41 of the cover member 13 of the container construction 10 of this invention is reclosed, the inner plug portion 43 of the flap means 41 is reinserted into the lower portion 45 of the opening 40 while the outer portion 44 of the flap means 41 is inserted in the outer portion 46 of the stepped opening 40. In this manner, the shoulder 44 of the flap means 41 rests on the shoulder 46 of the remaining part of the cover member 13 to prevent the flap means 41 from being pushed into the container construction 10.

When the flap means 41 is completely closed over the stepped opening 40 in the cover member 13, the handle 24 is again folded over the cover member 13 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and the portion 39 of the cover holding flange 19 of the receptacle 11 is again bent over the folded tab 24 to hold the same in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, as well as to lock the flap means 41 in its reclosed position.

Thus, it can be seen that the cover holding flange 19 of the receptacle 11 is not only adapted to hold the cover member 13 in place on the receptacle 11, but also the cover holding flange 19 is adapted to have the portion 39 thereof hold the grasping tab 24 of the cover member 13 flat against the side 20 thereof for shipping and storing purposes of the container construction 10. Thereafter, the portion 39 of the cover holding flange 19 is readily adapted to lock the opened flap means 41 of the cover member 13 in its reclosed position during subsequent storing of the remaining product means in the opened container construction 10.

Further, it can be seen that the cover member 13 of this invention is adapted to be formed from a single member while readily permitting the flap means 41 thereof to provide a stepped opening through the cover member 13, as well as a stepped flap means to reclose that stepped opening 40 in such a manner that the flap means 41 cannot be pushed into the interior of the receptacle 11 below the horizontal flange 17 thereof.

Since the cover member 13 of the container construction of this invention tears at the flap means 41 thereof when opened, any tampering with the opening means of the container construction 10 will be readily noticed by an ultimate consumer so that the container construction 10 of this invention is substantially pilfer-proof.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention not only provides an improved container construction having improved opening means, but also, this invention provides an improved cover member for such a container construction or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an open ended receptacle having a peripheral and horizontal flange surrounding the open end thereof and a cover-holding flange interconnected to the outer end of said peripheral flange, and a cover member disposed on said peripheral flange to close said receptacle and being held to said receptacle by said cover flange being folded over said cover member, said cover member being a one-piece structure having openable flap means for providing a stepped opening through said cover member so that said flap means can reclose said opening, said cover member having an outer peripheral edge and having a grasping tab extending outwardly from said peripheral edge, said tab when pulled relative to said cover member defining said opening from said outer peripheral edge inwardly to a point beyond said folded cover flange of a width substantially the same as said tab, said opening having the opposed sides thereof diverging away from each other from said point in directions away from said tab.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said grasping tab is folded back upon itself at said peripheral edge of said cover member and is held flat against said cover member by said cover-holding flange.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cover member has first cut means extending partly through the outer side thereof and second cut means extending partly through the inner side thereof and partially offset inwardly from said first cut means whereby said cut means define said openable flap means with a stepped configuration when said flap means is torn be tween said cut means.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cut means terminate at a hinge line in said cover member so that said fl-ap means is hinged to said cover memher.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cut means terminate at each side of said tab.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tab is folded back upon itself at said outer peripheral edge of said cover member and is held flat against said cover member by said cover-holding flange.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said cover-holding flange relocks said flap means in its reclosed position by being refolded over said folded tab.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said cover member is scored at said tab to facilitate folding of said tab.

9. In combination, an open ended receptacle having a peripheral and horizontal flange surrounding the open end thereof and a cover-holding flange interconnected to the outer end of said peripheral flange, and a cover member disposed on said peripheral flange to close said receptacle and being held to said receptacle by said cover flange being folded over said cover member, said cover member having openable flap means for providing an opening through said cover member, said flap means having a grasping tab for facilitating opening of said flap means, said tab being held against said cover member by said cover flange, said cover member having an outer peripheral edge and having said grasping tab extending outwardly from said peripheral edge, said tab when pulled relative to said cover member defining said opening from said outer peripheral edge inwardly to a point beyond said folded cover flange of a Width substantially the same as said tab, said opening having the opposed sides thereof diverging away from each other from said point in directions away from said tab.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said tab is folded back upon itself at said peripheral edge of said cover member and is held in its folded condition by said cover flange being folded over part of said tab.

11. A wall means for a container or the like comprising a one-piece member having openable flap means for providing a stepped opening through said wall means so that said flap means can reclose said opening, said wall means having an outer peripheral edge and having :a grasping tab extending outwardly from said peripheral edge, said tab when pulled relative to said wall means defining said opening from said outer peripheral edge inwardly to a point beyond said outer peripheral edge of a width substantially the same as said tab, said opening having the opposed sides thereof diverging away from each other from said point in directions away from said tab.

12. A wall means as set forth in claim 11 wherein said grasping tab is foldable back upon itself at said peripheral edge to be disposed flat against said wall means.

13. A wall means as set forth in claim 11 wherein said wall means has first cut means extending partly through the outer side thereof and second cut means extending partly through the inner side thereof and partially offset inwardly from said first cut means whereby said out means define said openable flap means with a stepped configuration when said flap means is torn between said cut means.

14. A wall means as set forth in claim 13 wherein said out means terminate at a hinge line in said wall means so that said flap means is hinged to said wall means.

15. A wall means as set forth in claim 13 wherein said cut means terminate at each side of said tab.

16. A wall means as set forth in claim 15 wherein said tab is foldable back upon itself at said outer peripheral edge of said wall means to be disposed flat against said wall means.

17. A wall means as set forth in claim 16 wherein said wall means is scored at said tab to facilitate folding of said tab.

18. A wall means for a container or the like having openable flap means for providing an opening through said wall means, said flap means having a grasping tab for facilitating opening of said flap means, said tab being foldable back upon itself to be disposed flat against said wall means, said wall means having an outer peripheral edge and having said grasping tab extending outwardly from said peripheral edge, said tab when pulled relative to said wall means defining said opening from said outer peripheral edge inwardly to a point beyond said peripheral edge of a width substantially the same as said tab, said opening having the opposed sides thereof diverging away from each other from said point in directions away from said tab.

19. In combination, an open ended receptacle having a peripheral and horizontal flange surrounding the open end thereof and a cover holding flange inter-connected to the outer end of said peripheral flange, and a cover member disposed on said peripheral flange to close said receptacle and being held to said receptacle by said cover flange being folded over said cover member, said cover member being a one-piece structure having openable flap means for providing a stepped opening through said cover member so that said flap means can reclose said opening, said cover member having a first cut means extending partly through the outer side thereof and second cut means extending partly through the inner side thereof and partially offset inwardly from said first cut means whereby said cut means defines said openable flap means with a stepped configuration when said flap means is formed between said out means, said fiap means having a grasping tab extending therefrom, said out means terminating at each side of said tab, said tab defining a slot leading from the outer periphery of said cover member to said stepped opening.

20. In combination, an open ended receptaclehaving a peripheral and horizontal flange surrounding the opened end thereof and a cover holding flange interconnected to the outer end of said peripheral flange, and a cover member disposed on said peripheral flange to close said receptacle and being held to said receptacle by said cover flange being folded over said cover member, said cover member having openable flap means for providing an opening through said cover member, said flap means having a grasping tab for facilitating opening of said flap means, said tab being held against said cover member by said cover flange, said tab being folded back upon itself and being held in its folded condition by said cover flange being folded over part of "said tab, said cover flange having a part thereof unfolded from over said tab to permit opening of said flap means, saidp'art of said cover flange being refoldable over. said tab to reclose and hold said flap means in its closed position.

21. A wall means for a container or the like comprising a one-piece member having openable flap means for providing a stepped opening through said wall means so that said flap means can reclose said opening, said wall means having first cut means extending partly through the outer side thereof and second cut means extending partly through the inner side thereof and partially offset inwardly from said first cut means whereby said cut means defines said openable, flap means with a stepped configuration when said flapineans is torn between said cut means, said flap means having a grasping tab extending therefrom, said out means terminating at each side of said tab, said tab defining a slot leading from the outer periphery of said wall means to said stepped opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,125,609 8/1938 Goodwin 215-1938 3,233,819 2/1966 Floherty 229 1943 JOSEPH R. LE'CLAIR, Primary Examiner.

R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner. 

